Jewish terrorist strikes plea bargain

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A Jewish terrorist who was found unfit to stand trial two years ago has struck a plea bargain with a Jerusalem court.

Jack Teitel, 39, and the father of four young children, admitted to the charges — two counts of murder, five counts of attempted murder, incitement and weapons violations, and one count of arson — but refused to appear before the court, whose authority he does not recognize, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Teitel was arrested on Oct. 7, 2009 in a joint police-Shin Bet operation.

The Jerusalem District Court determined Monday that Teitel killed two Palestinians and attempted to murder five Jews and Arabs. He also allegedly assembled a package bomb that seriously injured the son of a messianic Jew and allegedly set up a pipe bomb near the home of prominent left-wing professor Ze’ev Sternhell.

The court will reconvene next month to determine whether Teitel was criminally responsible for his actions, the Post reported.

A Florida native, Teitel made aliyah in 2000 and was a resident of the Shvut Rachel outpost in the northern West Bank.